Plato (427B.C.-347B.C.) is thought of as one of the great Greek philosophers. As a pupil of Socrates the first philosophers whom wasn't concerned as much with nature as the Pre-Socratics or the philosophers before Socrates. Instead of being concerned with the natural world as most Pre-Socratics were Plato and Socrates were concerned with ethics and the way to live a healthy life style.He also was quoted by A.N. Whitehead he said, " All of western philosophy is just a footnote to Plato."
Biography
Plato was born in Athens, Greece in 427 B.C.E. (before common era) and was the child of Ariston and Perictione, both of which are of noble backgrounds.When Plato was about 21 years of age he met his teacher in philosophy Socrates. It was only a short 8 years after the acquaintance of Plato and Socrates that Socrates was condemned to death for corrupting the youth of Athens.
Philosophy
Plato's philosophy was mainly that there was a world of ideals and then there is the world that we live on. An easier way for me to explain it is what comes first the "ideal" chicken or the chicken we all know of today. Plato believed that the "ideal" chicken came first because he thought nothing on this world exists until it first exists in the world of ideals. So he thought that every thing has a form that we know of today then up somewhere in the clouds i am guessing is the world where everything that is perfect exists.
Another one of his philosophies was that there was the real world and we just see shadows of it. The way he describes it is imagine we are in a cave chained in such a way to where we can't turn our heads and look behind us. Then behind us is a walkway where everything from everyday life passes on. Then there is a fire burning behind the walkway casting a shadow on where we are looking making it look like the animal or human passing by. Now say one of your friends that are chained with you gets released into the real world he is so amazed with everything around him that he tries to come in and tell you about it but all you see is a shadow and all you hear is a very blurry noise in the background.
He believed that the soul and body is divided into three main core parts. The soul he believed that there was reason, will, and appetite. And to the body there is the head, the chest, and the abdomen. which each contributed to the other part of the soul/body.
He was the first person to believe in an aristocracy or that the smarter individuals (the philosopher kings) should rule the government. then the wealthy nobles are the next down the lane with power. At the bottom of the chain is the working man or the laborers.
Quotes
"A good decision is based on knowledge not numbers"
"Any man may easily do harm, but not every man can do good to another"
"At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet"
"Courage is knowing what not to fear"
"Cunning is but the low mimic to wisdom"
"He was a wise men who invented beer"
"If a man neglects education, he walks lame to the end of his life"
"Philosophy is the highest music"
Major Works
The Socratic Dialogue
The Platonic Dialogues
The Republic
The Seventh Letter
Bibliography
www.notablebiographies.com
Gaarder, Jostein Sophie's World Trans. Paulette Moller, New York Berkeley, 1994
John Bruno Hare www.sacred-texts.com trans. Benjamin Jowett, J. Harward 2010 www.brainyquote.com
Annas, Julia A Very Short Introduction to Plato Oxford University, 2003
Plato
(Plato)
Introduction
Plato (427B.C.-347B.C.) is thought of as one of the great Greek philosophers. As a pupil of Socrates the first philosophers whom wasn't concerned as much with nature as the Pre-Socratics or the philosophers before Socrates. Instead of being concerned with the natural world as most Pre-Socratics were Plato and Socrates were concerned with ethics and the way to live a healthy life style.He also was quoted by A.N. Whitehead he said, " All of western philosophy is just a footnote to Plato."
Biography
Plato was born in Athens, Greece in 427 B.C.E. (before common era) and was the child of Ariston and Perictione, both of which are of noble backgrounds.When Plato was about 21 years of age he met his teacher in philosophy Socrates. It was only a short 8 years after the acquaintance of Plato and Socrates that Socrates was condemned to death for corrupting the youth of Athens.
Philosophy
Plato's philosophy was mainly that there was a world of ideals and then there is the world that we live on. An easier way for me to explain it is what comes first the "ideal" chicken or the chicken we all know of today. Plato believed that the "ideal" chicken came first because he thought nothing on this world exists until it first exists in the world of ideals. So he thought that every thing has a form that we know of today then up somewhere in the clouds i am guessing is the world where everything that is perfect exists.
Another one of his philosophies was that there was the real world and we just see shadows of it. The way he describes it is imagine we are in a cave chained in such a way to where we can't turn our heads and look behind us. Then behind us is a walkway where everything from everyday life passes on. Then there is a fire burning behind the walkway casting a shadow on where we are looking making it look like the animal or human passing by. Now say one of your friends that are chained with you gets released into the real world he is so amazed with everything around him that he tries to come in and tell you about it but all you see is a shadow and all you hear is a very blurry noise in the background.
He believed that the soul and body is divided into three main core parts. The soul he believed that there was reason, will, and appetite. And to the body there is the head, the chest, and the abdomen. which each contributed to the other part of the soul/body.
He was the first person to believe in an aristocracy or that the smarter individuals (the philosopher kings) should rule the government. then the wealthy nobles are the next down the lane with power. At the bottom of the chain is the working man or the laborers.
Quotes
Major Works
Bibliography
www.notablebiographies.com
Gaarder, Jostein Sophie's World Trans. Paulette Moller, New York Berkeley, 1994
John Bruno Hare www.sacred-texts.com trans. Benjamin Jowett, J. Harward 2010
www.brainyquote.com
Annas, Julia A Very Short Introduction to Plato Oxford University, 2003